'We apologise': 24-hour CareDoc strike begins today with service interruptions likely

The 24-hour strike action affecting CareDoc services will get underway in six counties across Ireland today. 

It is happening due to a dispute in pay, with roughly 270 members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and SIPTU taking part. 

As a result, Caredoc's out-of-hours GP service and treatment centres will not operate from 6pm today.

They will resume at 6pm tomorrow, but CareDoc has warned that "further service interruptions are likely over the Christmas period." 

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CareDoc says  Tuesday 23 December, Saturday 27 December, Monday 29 December, Tuesday 30 December, and Friday 2 January are most likely to be affected. 

The strike action will get underway in Kilkenny, Carlow, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, and South Wicklow.

"In the event of an emergency, please call the 999 Ambulance service. Should you have an urgent medical need, please attend your local hospital Emergency Department. Otherwise, contact your own GP surgery number for further advice," a statement from CareDoc said. 

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"We apologise to the public for the inconvenience and disruption caused by this action, which is outside the control of Caredoc," it added.

The current winter flu epidemic, expected to peak over the Christmas period, is causing hospitals and GP services to struggle to provide adequate cover already.

CareDoc earlier this week called for the two unions involved to suspend the strike action on humanitarian grounds, however, they decided to proceed.